WC softball wraps up fall schedule, ready for spring

November 16, 2011

Waycross College’s women’s softball team won all four games of its preseason round-robin tournament Nov. 12 at the Trembling Earth Complex in Waycross.

The Swamp Foxes shutout the Jacksonville Bandits in game one, 12-0, and defeated the Central Florida Sting, 7-4. The final two games were also shutouts, as WC defeated Florida Superior, 2-0, and St. Johns Prime, 6-0.

“Our pitching was really good in all four games,” said head coach Bryan Hartley. “In the second game (against Central Florida), we only gave up one earned run.”

Sophomores Summer Rose, Aimee Johnson, and Samantha Howard led the Swamp Foxes in hitting during the tournament. Rose had a .750 batting average (6-for-8), while Johnson finished with a .556 average (5-for-9) and one home run. Howard also homered and had a .333 average (3-for-9).

“Our hitting has been a lot stronger than last year,” said Hartley. “We have a lot more depth, too, which will be a strong point for us. There may be times in the spring where some key players are not in the lineup. That is a testament to our depth.”

Saturday’s tournament was the final event on the Swamp Foxes’ fall schedule. WC finished its scrimmage season with an 11-10 record, which included games against much bigger four-year universities – Armstrong Atlantic State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State.

Hartley said he has been pleased with his team’s progress this fall.

“I believe we’ve improved since day one,” he said. “Preseason is a time to work out kinks and get better. I believe we’ve done that.”

To illustrate his point, Hartley said each scrimmage this fall was a different learning experience.

“We had games where everything went right and games where everything went wrong,” he said. “We did a good job of learning from each experience.”

Hartley pointed to his team’s base running and “situational hitting” as two important areas where the Swamp Foxes have shown improvement.

He also said leadership from his sophomore players has also made his team better each day. WC fielded an all-freshmen team in its 2010-2011 inaugural season.

“They (sophomores) have helped our freshmen improve faster,” he said.

With attention now focused on the regular season, which begins in January, Hartley said he believes the Swamp Foxes will be ready to make some noise in the GCAA conference.

“Our team is gelling well,” he said. “We have good morale and high expectations for spring. With respect to talent and preparation, I believe this is a stronger team than last year.”

Playing an integral part in the team’s development, Hartley said, has been the addition of two assistant coaches to his staff. Laura Hutchins, a former player at Brewton-Parker College, and Paul Cason, a volunteer coach from Hazlehurst, Ga., have brought experience in two important areas to the team this year.

“Laura is our pitching coach. Her day-to-day work with our pitchers has been a direct reflection on how much better we’ve pitched so far this year,” Hartley said. Paul’s focus is on hitting, and he is doing a great job as well.”

The Swamp Foxes open their regular season Jan. 28-29, 2012, at the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. Hartley said the tournament has been known to include very good teams, which is one of two reasons he chose to open the season on the road.

“We’re going to play some stiff competition out of the gate,” he said. “But another reason I chose this tournament is because it is scouted heavily by four-year schools. I want those schools to see our players so that they (the players) might have a chance to play at the next level.”

So far, two of Hartley’s sophomores have committed to play at the four-year level in 2012-2013.

“Samantha Howard has committed to play for Morehead State in Kentucky, and Alex Wood has committed to play for Embry-Riddle in Florida,” he said.

The Swamp Foxes’ first home date will be Feb. 11, 2012, against East Georgia College. All home dates are doubleheaders and are played at the Trembling Earth Complex in Waycross.

Waycross College has been a proud member of the University System of Georgia since the College’s founding in 1976.

Katelyn Baxley (#15) beats out a throw to first base against the Jacksonville Bandits Nov. 12. The game was part of a preseason round-robin tournament held at the Trembling Earth Complex in Waycross.

Samantha Howard hits a home run against the Jacksonville Bandits Nov. 12. The Swamp Foxes defeated the Bandits, 12-0.